Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-21
WOMEN WHO GAMBLE.
Pictures From the Fashionable
Casinos of Aix.Les-Bains.


Casinos of fAix.Les.Bains.
There are two casinos at Aix-Les-
Bains, and consequently two gambling
saloons and two sets of little horses.
| The more serious" of the two casinos,
the Cercle d'Aix .les-Bains, has re-
placed the former inferior sale de jeu
with new and sumptuous apartment
which fairly rivals that of the gay re-
sort of the place, POLITICALLY and sig
nificantly denominated the Villa
des Fleurs. The Villa des Fleurs
is "fast," and though ladies occa-
sionally wander in there out of Curl
osity, it is scarcely the place to which
any self-respecting young woman OF
the present day would take her own
mother. As often happens, however,
the surroundings are prettier and more
fascinating than those OF the Cercle.
Only man is vile. The two casinos,
though taking in about 700, 900 francs
apiece each season, are not supposed
to make much money and do not de-
clare dividends. There are philan-
thropic institutions, designed for the
amusement of the populace. The sala-
ries OF an operatic and theatrical troupe
and of an ochestra and band, the cost
OF fireworks and improvements are pre-
sumed to eat up the profits of the
restaurants, the performances and
the gaming tables. The Circle d'Aix-
les. Blains pays Colonne a really
enormous figure for the services OF
himself and his orchestra, one of the
finest gin Europe, but it is hard to
believe that money is not made over
and above expenses at the Villa des
Fleurs. where expenditure on the
part of the public is lavish, and where
they gamble for high stakes.
The gaming table is Il far more lib
eral place than the table d'hote, for in
the sale de jeu respectable but
curious matrons rub shoulders
with frisky and painted young persons
who would never be allowed to dine in
their company at any hotel. One be-
comes used to everything, and ex-
istence in continental watering place
soon accustoms Americans and Eng
lish to the spectacle of duchess put
ting down l0-franc piece side by side
with the golden louis OF a cocotte,
and of a respectable and church-going
citizen of the United States rubbing
shoulders at cards with cut throat
adventurer. A celebrated English
comedian and well-known singer,
American by birth, English by repu-
tation, Italian by name, fairly haunts
the green cloth, replacing the excite
ment of active life before the footlights
with the hopes and fears that hang upon
a nine-spot. The most desperate
gambler at Aix-les- Bains is, however,
woman, Greek by birth. This
devotee OF the green cloth does not
take her seat at the table, on account
of her sex, but plays over the shoul-
ders of sterner man in 100 franc bills,
and she risks 500 francs with the same
imperturbability that she might put
down 100 sous. This woman, who is
immensely rich. has face that a
painter might. take as an unlovely
model. The expression is that OF
ferret, and the rat-like corntenance
has its resemblance to rodent inten-
sified by a nervous twitching OF the
tightly compressed, thin lips and the
conical chin. The small eyes stare from
under q mass OF grizzled gray hair;
the skin is red and guiltless OF the
softening application OF anything like
poudre de riz. This celebrity, who
changes from the tables OF the Cercle
d'Aix-les-Bains to those of the Villa
des Fleurs and back again, does not
devote much attention to her costume.
1t consists OF black dress, not too
well made; black jet bonnet, and,
like the true gambler that she is, no
gloves. While she plays she keeps
shifting and counting the white and
blue l00-franc notes. When called
upon to give change, she takes gold
from purse; but as a rule, she de-
spises the metal and deals only in pa
per- Boston Herald.